The saxophone was developed in the mid 19th century by Adolphe Sax a Belgian. He worked making musical instruments like his father. In those times children followed the path of their fathers, like Black Smith, Bakers, etc. The first instrument he developed was the baritone sax and he showed it to Hector Berlioz, which was a dear friend of his, with similar personality. A few years later he came out with the rest of the saxophone family, alto, soprano, tenor, etc. The baritone sax wasn't the first one he developed but he perfected the bass clarinet. He had duals with other bass clarinet players with his improved method and won the duals. Like fighting duals that occurred in the 19 century. There was a small orchestra of his with his improved instruments and saxes and he won a large orchestra with more outdated instruments.
I was a bass clarinet player at fifteen years old, the sax wasn't easy to rent neither in California or Florida in High School. When I got a job in a music store near where I lived taking care the the classical department, I bought an alto. It was a great alto from Buescher of the 50's in mint condition from a close neighbour who never got to play it, for he left in the Navy. He was going to play in the band in the Navy but it didn't materialize. He wasn't too happy to give his precious instrument but I have been enjoying it ever since. The sax was played in the Paris Conservatory in his time and he was a teacher there, beside making them. Berlioz kept being his deep friend and wrote many articles in music periodicals of the period. In the instruments were used in Berlioz music, then in Wagner. The instrument stopped being played in the conservatory or orchestras, for a long period after that till the 1920's when black musicians started realizing the greatness of the instrument in Jazz. It was too there wasn't much a great composer like Wagner or Berlioz for a period till jazz came alone, Debussy, the Martinu( great composer for many instruments) in the early 20 century.
